---
title: "How to View EXIF Data on iPhone, and What You Can Remove (2026)"
description: "View EXIF data on iPhone without an app: swipe up on a photo to see camera, date and location. Here's what you can edit or remove and what goes when you share."
url: https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/exif-data-iphone
lang: en
published: 2026-10-29
updated: 2026-10-29
author: "VaultForYou Editorial Team"
publisher: VaultForYou
---

# EXIF data on iPhone: how to view photo metadata and remove it

> Your iPhone already has an EXIF viewer built into Photos, but it only lets you change the date, time and location, not the camera details.

Published 2026-10-29 - Updated 2026-10-29 - By VaultForYou Editorial Team

## Quick answer

To view EXIF data on iPhone, open the photo in Photos and swipe up or tap the Info button. You'll see the device, date and time, lens, shutter speed, file size and location. To change it, tap More > Adjust Info to edit the date, time or location, or choose No Location. Photos can't remove the camera details.

- **View it:** Open a photo in Photos, then swipe up or tap the Info button.
- **Edit it:** More > Adjust Info > Adjust Date & Time or Adjust Location.
- **Remove location:** Adjust Location > No Location, or turn off Location in the share sheet's Options.
- **Shared with it:** Apple says shared photos include metadata such as date, time, location and device.

Open the photo in the **Photos** app and swipe up, or tap the **Info** button. That panel is your iPhone's built-in EXIF viewer: it shows which device took the photo, the date and time, camera details such as lens, shutter speed and file size, and where it was taken if location was saved. You can edit the date, time and location there, or remove the location entirely. What you can't do in Photos is remove the camera and device details. And when you share the original file, Apple says its metadata can go with it.

We checked these steps against Apple's iOS 27 documentation in October 2026. This page covers all of a photo's metadata; for location specifically, see our deeper guide to [removing location from photos on iPhone](/blog/remove-location-from-photos-iphone).

## How do you view EXIF data on iPhone?

1. Open the **Photos** app.
2. Tap the photo or video you want to check.
3. Swipe up, or tap the **Info** button.
4. Swipe down or tap the close button when you're done.

Depending on the photo, the panel shows:

- **Device**: what captured the photo or video.
- **Date and time** it was taken, with an **Adjust** option.
- **Camera metadata**: lens, shutter speed, file size and more.
- **Location**: tap it to open Maps, tap **Adjust** to change it, or **Add a location** if none was saved.
- **People and pets** recognized in the photo, a **caption** field, and items detected by Visual Look Up.
- **Who shared it** with you, and **which albums** it's in.

That covers what most people search for when they want to check photo information on iPhone.

## What EXIF data does an iPhone photo contain?

EXIF (Exchangeable Image File Format) is a standard for recording technical details of a digital photo inside the file itself. It isn't the picture; it's a set of labels attached to it. Here's what matters on iPhone and what you can do about each piece:

| Metadata | Shown in Photos info? | Can you change or remove it on iPhone? |
|---|---|---|
| Device and camera model | Yes | No, not in Photos |
| Lens, shutter speed and camera settings | Yes | No, not in Photos |
| File size and format | Yes | Format only, when sharing (Most Compatible) |
| Date and time taken | Yes | Yes: Adjust Date & Time |
| Location (GPS coordinates) | Yes, if saved | Yes: Adjust Location or No Location |
| Caption | Yes | Yes: edit or delete the caption |
| Edit history | No | Shared only with All Photos Data over AirDrop |

Location is the piece with the most privacy weight, because it can point to your home, your kid's school or your routine. The date comes second.

## Who can see your photo's metadata?

Anyone who gets the file or has access to your library can usually read it.

| Who | Can they see the metadata? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You, in Photos | **Yes** | Swipe up on any photo |
| People you send a photo to | **Usually** | Apple says sharing includes date, time, location, device and captions |
| People you send a photo to with Location turned off | **Not the location** | The share sheet's Options removes it from that copy |
| AirDrop recipients with All Photos Data on | **Yes, plus edit history** | That option sends the original file |
| Apps with Full Access to your photos | **Yes, for every photo** | Photo access includes metadata like location |
| Apps with Limited Access | **Only for photos you selected** | Same rule, smaller scope |
| Anyone who can unlock your iPhone | **Yes** | Photos shows it, and the Map collection groups photos by place |

The middle rows are the ones to watch. A single photo of your front door, sent as an original, can include where you live.

## How to change or remove EXIF data on iPhone

Photos lets you edit the date, time and location, and it can do several photos at once.

1. Open the photo in **Photos** and tap the **More** button.
2. Tap **Adjust Info**.
3. Choose **Adjust Date & Time** to change the timestamp, or **Adjust Location** to change the place.
4. To remove the location, choose **No Location**.

To change a batch, tap **Select** in your library, choose the photos, then follow the same steps. To undo any change, repeat the steps and tap **Revert**, which restores the original date, time or location.

On a Mac, select photos in the Photos app and choose **Image > Location > Hide Location**.

### What you can't remove

Apple documents editing only the date, time and location. The device model, lens and exposure details stay in the file, and Photos has no option to strip them. For most people that's fine: camera details rarely reveal much. If you need a file with no metadata at all, that takes a third-party tool, and the safest approach is to never share the original.

## How to share a photo without its metadata

The share sheet is where you control what leaves your iPhone.

1. In **Photos**, select one or more photos and tap **Share**.
2. Tap **Options** in the share sheet.
3. Turn off **Location**. You'll see "Location Not Included" above Options.
4. Turn off **Keywords** if you've added any.
5. Leave **All Photos Data** off unless you mean to send the original with its edit history (it only applies to AirDrop).
6. Share as usual.

Don't count on messaging apps to strip metadata for you. Behavior varies between apps and depends on how the photo is sent, so set it yourself before you share. Our [location guide](/blog/remove-location-from-photos-iphone) walks through this in more detail.

## Do you need an EXIF viewer app?

For most people, no. The Photos info panel shows the details that matter, and it's already on your phone. A dedicated EXIF viewer is only worth it if you need every raw tag, such as the exact focal length or the software version.

If you do install one, mind the permission. An EXIF viewer that asks for Full Access can read your whole library, hidden photos and all, plus every photo's location. Give it **Limited Access** and select only the photos you want to inspect. Our guide to [iPhone photo access](/blog/iphone-photo-access-permission) explains the levels.

Curious where a photo you received was taken? See [how to find where a photo was taken](/blog/find-where-a-photo-was-taken).

## How to stop new photos saving location

Go to **Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > Camera** and choose **Never**. New photos and videos won't save GPS coordinates. Photos you've already taken keep their location until you remove it, and you lose the ability to browse those new photos by place. Other EXIF fields, like the date and camera details, are still recorded.

That switch and more are in our checklist of [iPhone privacy settings](/blog/iphone-privacy-settings).

## When metadata isn't the real problem

Sometimes the worry isn't what a photo says about where it was taken, but that the photo is sitting in your library at all, showing up in Photos, the Map collection and search for anyone who unlocks your phone.

For those photos, a vault does more than editing metadata. We make VaultForYou: it stores the photos, videos and documents you choose outside the Photos library, so they don't show up in Photos, search or widgets. Files are encrypted on your iPhone and a vault opens only with a pattern you draw. After moving a photo in, delete the original from Photos and empty Recently Deleted.

> **Keep location-tagged photos out of your library.** An encrypted vault on your iPhone that opens only with your pattern. [Download on the App Store](https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000)

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I check photo metadata on iPhone?

Open the photo in the Photos app, then swipe up or tap the Info button. The panel shows which device took it, the date and time, camera details such as lens, shutter speed and file size, and where it was taken if location was saved. It also lists recognized people, captions, and the albums the photo is in.

### Can I see EXIF data on iPhone without an app?

Yes. The Photos app's info panel is a built-in EXIF viewer: open a photo and swipe up. It shows the details most people want: device, date, time, lens, shutter speed, file size and location. You only need a third-party EXIF viewer if you want every raw tag, and if you install one, give it Limited Access to your photos.

### How do I remove EXIF data from a photo on iPhone?

Photos lets you remove or change only some of it. Open the photo, tap More, then Adjust Info. Choose Adjust Location and No Location to remove location, or Adjust Date & Time to change the timestamp. There's no built-in way to remove the device and camera details, and Revert restores the original values.

### Does sending a photo by text include its metadata?

It can. Apple says sharing a photo or video includes sharing its associated metadata, such as date and time, location, device and captions. Before sending from Photos, tap Share, then Options, and turn off Location. Don't rely on messaging apps to strip metadata for you; behavior varies between apps and versions.

### How do I find photo details on iPhone?

Open the photo and swipe up. You'll see the camera or device, date and time, lens and exposure details, file size and a map of where it was taken. Tap the location to open it in Maps, tap Adjust to edit the date or location, or tap an album name to jump to it.

### What is EXIF data?

EXIF, short for Exchangeable Image File Format, is a standard way of storing technical details inside a photo file: the camera, lens and settings, the date and time, and often GPS coordinates. It travels with the file, so anyone who receives the original photo can usually read it with the right viewer.

### Can apps read the metadata of my photos?

Yes, if they have access. Apple says access to photos includes associated metadata, such as location and depth information. An app with Full Access can read it for your whole library, including hidden photos; an app with Limited Access only for the photos you selected. Review access in Settings > Privacy & Security > Photos.

## Bottom line

Your iPhone already reads EXIF data: open a photo in Photos and swipe up. From there you can fix the date and time or remove the location with **Adjust Info**, but not the camera details. Before you share, tap **Options** and turn off **Location**, and keep Full Access to your photos for apps that truly need it.

Keep reading:

- [How to remove location from photos on iPhone](/blog/remove-location-from-photos-iphone)
- [How to find where a photo was taken](/blog/find-where-a-photo-was-taken)
- [iPhone photo access: Full vs. Limited](/blog/iphone-photo-access-permission)

## Sources

- [Apple Support: See photo and video information on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/see-photo-and-video-information-iph0edb9c18f/ios)
- [Apple Support: Share photos and videos on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/share-photos-and-videos-iphf28f17237/ios)
- [Apple Support: Manage location metadata in Photos](https://support.apple.com/guide/personal-safety/manage-location-metadata-in-photos-ips0d7a5df82/web)
- [Apple Legal: Photos & Privacy](https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/data/en/photos/)
- [Library of Congress: Exif Exchangeable Image File Format, Version 2.2](https://www.loc.gov/preservation/digital/formats/fdd/fdd000146.shtml)

## Keep reading

- [How to Remove Location From Photos on iPhone (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/remove-location-from-photos-iphone): Remove location from photos on iPhone in a few taps: turn off Location in the share sheet, strip it from a photo with Adjust Location and stop Camera saving it.
- [How to Find Out Where a Photo Was Taken (2026 Guide)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/find-where-a-photo-was-taken): Find where a photo was taken by reading its GPS data. Learn why location goes missing, and how to keep location-tagged photos out of Photos with a vault.
- [How to Limit Access to Photos on iPhone: Full vs. Limited (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/iphone-photo-access-permission): See which apps can access your photos on iPhone, what Full and Limited Access really allow (hidden photos and location included) and how to limit access.
- [Where Are Privacy Settings on iPhone? What to Change (2026)](https://www.vaultforyou.app/blog/iphone-privacy-settings): iPhone privacy settings live in Settings > Privacy & Security. Here's what to change first: tracking, location, photo access, analytics, Safari and more.

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Our guides are written and fact-checked by the VaultForYou team against Apple's own documentation. We make VaultForYou, a private vault app for iPhone. Download on the App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/vaultforyou/id0000000000